Self-contained beverage cooler



June 28, 1966 J. M. WARNER SELF-CONTAINED BEVERAGE COOLER Filed Aug. 24, 1965 I N VE NTOR. Jab]: M [460270]; BY

United States Patent 3,257,821 SELF-CONTAINED BEVERAGE COOLER John M. Warner, 603 W. Hartwell Lane, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118 Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 483,026 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-371) This is a continuation-in-part application of Serial No. 321,792, filed November 6, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to self-contained refrigerating systems and more particularly to noncyclic self-contained refrigerating systems.

There has long been a need for a simple means of cooling the contents of containers, particularly where there is no convenient source of power for operating commercial refrigerating systems or it is burdensome to maintain a cold environment by means of ice chests etc. for objects which are desirable when cold.

Picnickers, golfers, campers, fishermen, hunters and others who enjoy participating in outdoor activities have particular need for a small, portable beverage container having a light weight and automatic means for cooling the beverage itself.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means for efficiently cooling the contents of a beverage container. It is a further object of this invention to provide such cooling with a minimum of inconvenience to the user of the beverage.

The above and further objects of this invention will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device embodying this invention, a central portion being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of one form of valve which is suitable as a component of the device.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of successive stages in the formation of the upper portion of a container in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the completed upper portion referred to above.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an outer container 4 having a top 1 and a bottom 20, which contains the beverage B. The number 2 designates an inner container which is the liquid refrigerant container preferably made of stronger construction than the outer container, for containing the liquefied coolant under pressure. The liquid level L designates for purposes of illustration a level of refrigerant in the inner container 2. As can be seen in FIGURE 1, a spacer 3 is provided to contact the outer wall of the inner container 2 and the inner wall of the outer container 4. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 6 the spacer 3 is preferably adapted to surround the inner container 2 near its unsupported end. The spacer 3 may take many structural forms consistent with its dual function of providing support for the inner container and forming a path for heat transfer between the outer and inner containers.

The top 1 of the outer container 4 is sealed to the side wall at 5 and is also sealed to the inner container by means of the seal 7 which runs completely around the periphery of the upper portion of the inner container. Located at the center of the top of the inner container is a vent pipe 14 which is swaged into the upwardly flanged opening ,of the inner container and is crimpedto the seal 7, as at 12'. Suitable gasketing material 11 is interposed between the rolled metal flanges at the seal 7 in order to assure a fluid-tight fit between the inner and the outer containers. The vent pipe 14 is provided at an upper portion thereof with a valve member 19, of the selfclosing variety, shown in a depressed position. The valve "Ice.

member 19 is protected from the outside by means of a cap 15 which is crimped onto the central assembly of the closure member 10.

Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that valve means are provided for controllably releasing vided with a stem 18 which is arranged to contact the valve member 19 in order to open the valve in response to a turning movement of the valve actuator 16. The top 1 is suitably corrugated recessively toward the center and the cap 15 and valve actuator 16 are preferably so pro-v portioned such that the valve actuator 16 is completely recessed below the outward top rim of the outer container 4.

Accordingly, in operation, when the user of the device desires to cool the beverage B, he simply turns the valve actuator 16, thus depressing valve member 19 and controllably releasing gas from the upper portion of the inner container 2. The release of gas allows for vaporization of liquid at the liquid level L,- and continuous vaporization of the liquid takes place until the supply of liquid is exhausted or until the valve member 19 is closed. The heat required for this vaporization is absorbed from the remaining liquid, the container 2 and the container 4 which in turn absorb heat from the beverage B, rapidly cooling it.

It is important in accordance with this invention that the valve member 19 is located above the liquid level L to release the coolant in vapor form rather than in liquid form since the cooling effect in accordance with this invention is dependent upon the absorption of the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid in the inner container 2. -In addition to the heat of vaporization, this invention also takes advantage of the heat absorbed due to the expansion of the gas.

It will be appreciated that this invention takes advantage of convection heat transfer since as the liquid coolant absorbs heat from the walls of the inner container 2 and the outer container 4 via the heat conducting spacer strap 3, the beverage adjacent these surfacesis cooled and descends to be replaced by warmer liquid. The movement of the liquid in this manner is felt to be responsible for the uniform cooling of the beverage which is characteristic of this invention.

It is important in accordance with this invention that the container 2 is substantially surrounded by the coni tainer 4, with an intervening layer of beverage, to be cooled. The heat of vaporization plus the heat of expanevoluation of the refrigerant and impairs the utility of the article for acceptable speedy, portable refrigeration. The formation of ice is particularly undesirable in beverages which do not freeze uniformly but rather concentrate components of their composition in the remaining liquid phase. This undesirable phenomenon is prevented I and uniform cooling of the beverage is enhanced by providing an effective means of heat transfer from the outer container to the inner container. Preferably this transfer can be accomplished as here by means of a heat conducting spacer strap. This strap ensures eificientvcooling by conducting heat from the outer container 4 thereby per- If this is not done the inner conmitting uniform vaporization of the liquid refrigerant and uniformly distributed cooled beverage.

FIGS. 3-7 show a preferred method of assembling the apparatus according to this invention. In FIG. 3, the members 1 and 2 are shown in overlapping relationship, and in FIG. 4 they are rolled down forming an upper, outwardly extending flange. FIG. 5 shows the outwardly extending flange further rolled down, and FIG. 6 shows the entire vertically extending flange turned down upon itself forming the seal 7. FIG. 7 shows the resulting sealed structure, with the beverage in the outer container and with the liquid coolant in the inner container, and with the valve assembly secured in place and the cap crimped in place.

The method of forming and filling the container in accordance with this invention is of importance. The structure is preferably formed in the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the cylindrical portion of the outer container 4, without any bottom 20, is sealed to the top 1, by means of the seal 5. The outer container 4 is then filled with beverage through the bottom and the bottom is then sealed in place. Then, the liquid coolant is charged into the inner container 2 in a conventional manner and the valve assembly and the cap 15 are crimped in place. The valve actuator 16 is then assembled in a proper position, ready for operation in conjunction with the valve member 19.

It is an advantage that the inner container is seamed to only one end of the outer container. In this manner, the entire bottom of the inner container is available as a heat transfer surface and this speeds the cooling of the beverage B.

Although any suitable liquefied gas refrigerant may be utilized, excellent results have been obtained in accordance with this invention, utilizing the fluorinated hydrocarbon referred to in the trade as Freon, particularly Freon 12, which is dichlorodifluoromethane.

It will be appreciated that many variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, although it is desired to provide a valve actuator 16 which may be screwed and unscrewed in order to open and close the valve, and although this is of great advantage in allowing the user to prevent overcooling of the beverage, in some cases it is possible to utilize a simple one-shot valve which simply opens up and emits all of the liquefied gas vapors.

It will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the materials used in the containers such as a substitution of glass for metal or plastic or the like, where such substitution is consistent with the functioning of the article of this invention as previously described. Further, changes in shape may be made, for example, the outer container may be in the shape of a bottle.

Further, variations may be made in the sequence of steps used in the method, for example, inner container 2 may be assembled to top 1 as shown in FIG. 6 with the valve assembly already in place and then charged with liquefied refrigerant. This assembly may be charged before or after outer top 1 is sealed to outer can 4. Also, the liquefied refrigerant may be introduced prior to the insertion of the valve assembly. Of course, other variations may be made when desired.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those shown and described, certain parts may be reversed and assembly and filling sequences may be reversed all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-refrigerating deverage container utilizing a vaporizable liquefied gas refrigerant comprising;

(a) an outer container of heat conducting material for containing a beverage to be cooled,

(b) an inner container of heatconducting material located within the outer container and connected to at least one end thereof, the inner container adapted to contain a liquefied gas refrigerant under pressure,

(1) valve means located on the inner container having the ability to be opened to permit evolution of refrigerant vapor to the atmosphere, and

(2) separate heat conducting means spatially removed from said end and connecting the inner container and the outer container in heat conducting relationship at both the point of contact with said inner container and the point of contact with said outer container and at a location spaced below said end of said outer container whereby heat is uniformly removed from the beverage by both the inner container and said separate heat conducting means which transfer the heat to the vaporizing refrigerant when the valve means is open.

2. The self-refrigerating beverage container of claim 1 wherein the heat conducting means is constructed and situated Within the space between the outer container and the inner container to permit unrestricted convection flow of the beverage to be cooled.

3. A self-refrigerating beverage container comprising;

(a) an outer container for containing a beverage to be cooled,

(b) an inner container, that is shorter than the outer container and is located within, and affixed to one end of the outer container,

(c) a spacer strap constructed of a heat conductive material adapted to circumferentially surround and contact the inner container, and further provided with a plurality of spaced projections outward from the inner container adapted to contact and rigidly engage the inner surface of the outer container in heat conducting relationship and to provide support for the inner container, the inner container further provided with ((1) cover means for containing a charge of liquefied gas refrigerant within the inner container, and

(e) valve means located on the cover means for permitting the release of vapor from the liquefied gas refrigerant in the inner container to the atmosphere when the valve is opened whereby the contents of the outer container are cooled by the transfer of heat from the beverage to the walls of the outer container and the walls of the inner container to the vaporizing liquefied gas refrigerant.

4. The self-refrigerating beverage container of claim 1 further provided with supporting means for locating and firmly holding the inner container stationary within the outer container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1949 Palaith 62530 X 4/1962 Ruggieri 62-371 X 

1. A SELF-REFRIGERATING DEVERAGE CONTAINER UTILIZING A VAPORIZABLE LIQUEFIED GAS REFRIGERANT COMPRISING; (A) AN OUTER CONTAINER OF HEAT CONDUCTING MATERIAL FOR CONTAINING A BEVERAGE TO BE COOLED, (B) AN INNER CONTAINER OF HEAT CONDUCTING MATERIAL LOCATED WITHIN THE OUTER CONTAINER AND CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE END THEREOF, THE INNER CONTAINER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIQUEFIED GAS REFRIGERANT UNDER PRESSURE, (1) VALVE MEANS LOCATED ON THE INNER CONTAINER HAVING THE ABILITY TO BE OPENED TO PERMIT EVOLUTION OF REFRIGERANT VAPOR TO THE ATMOSPHERE, AND (2) SEPARATE HEAT CONDUCTING MEANS SPATIALLY REMOVED FROM SAID END AND CONNECTING THE INNER CONTAINER AND THE OUTER CONTAINER IN HEAT CONDUCTING RELATIONSHIP AT BOTH THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH SAID INNER CONTAINER AND THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH SAID OUTER CONTAINER AND AT A LOCATION SPACED BELOW SAID ED OF SAID OUTER CONTAINER WHEREBY HEAT IS UNIFORMLY REMOVED FROM THE 